OLD FRIENDS MADE NEW AGAIN

What a delight it was to see so many old friends at Mike’s Author Talk at SOURCE Booksellers last Thursday evening. The room was crowded with many dear friends we had not seen in years. The list of folks who dropped in reads like a Who’s Who of people mentioned or acknowledged in Mike’s book.

Mike was beautifully greeted in introduction by Aneb Gloria House who gave an overview of Mike’s life and work. Dr. House is a long-time liberation movement worker, a veteran of SNCC in Mississippi, a professor and poet. Gloria read poems from Mike’s book, A Black Revolutionary’s Life in Labor: Black Workers Power in Detroit. Thank you, Gloria, for your kind words and beautiful reading. You will find Gloria’s praise of Mike’s book on its back cover.

Also in attendance was Edna Watson Ewell, John Watson’s widow. John was one of the original incorporators of the League, along with Mike and Ken Cockrel. If you read the book, you understand how instrumental John was to the development of the Inner-City Voice, the League and the Black Workers Congress. Edna also played a role in the early development of the League. Also on hand was Gracie Wooten, widow of Chuck Wooten. Chuck was an original member of DRUM. You may remember Chuck in the film, Finally Got the News as he narrated the early part of the film during his morning drive to work.

Others in attendance mentioned in the book were, Frank Joyce, Bill Bryce, Kae Halonen, Maria Guadiana and Michele Gibb’s good friend, Ivy Thomas Riley. Also joining us with his eye on the future was one of Mike’s students. There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing old friends. Lively discussion followed Mike’s presentation and many books were sold. Do you have your copy yet?

We would like to extend a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Janet Jones, owner of SOURCE Booksellers, for offering us this opportunity to renew old and welcome new friends. Follow our blog by clicking “follow” on this website. Visit us on Facebook.

Mike with Janet Jones from SOURCE Booksellers

You may purchase Mike’s book on this website. Also available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobel.com, SOURCE Booksellers and the Charles H.Wright Museum of African American History. Let me know if you would like a signed copy.

Note: If you missed our blog last week-end, it was not your fault. I made a mistake and posted it elsewhere on this web-site and thus it was not posted properly to your e-mail address. Joann